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JFK Assassination System Date: 7/30/201
Identification Form

Agency Information

SSCIA
157-1001 1-10048

TRANSCRIPT

Decument Information

SSCIA

TESTIMONY OF ROBERT MAHEU

07/30/1975
95

ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL: GALANE, MORTON R.
GIANCANA, SAM

WIRETAPS

MAHEU, ROBERT

ROSELLI, JOHNNY

MAFIA CONNECTION

PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT
Unclassified

Consulted; 1A; 1B; 1C; 3; Donor Restricted
Redact

07/19/1994

SSCI Box 252, Folder 5

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=) i 1 am not too far off in what I am about to tell you. The contract
3
tape ab 2 was structured in such,a way ithat as the bottoms of other
E 3 companies became obsolete, they could only be replaced with

4 Onassis’ tankers. Even ARAMCO had to, by attrition, within a

5 period of four-and-a-half to five-and-a-half years, would have,
6 if thsir tankers became obsolete, thsy could only be replaced

7 by Onassis tankers.

8 Our statistics, after having studied the contract and

9 making what we considered to be proper projections, indicated
10 that at the completion of approximately five-and-a-half years,
11 || Mr. Onassis would control -more dead weight tonnage than the

12 || United States controlled in its entirety, that he would control

13 || on the high seas annually more oil by tens of thousands of

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14 || gallons more than were used by all of the Allied nations during
15 the most severe year of the Korean War, that in the first year
16 | his profit would be approximately $17 million dollars, that

1? after five-and-a-half years his annual profit would be in the
1g | area of $200 million.

19 While this analysis is going on, we also found that a
go:|}-million dollar pay-off had been made to one of the top ministers

21 || in Saudi Arabia and we had the evidence me Of She Suis 3

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410 First Street, S.E., Washington, O.C. 20003

25 We then prepared cur inputs and presented them to the

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National Security Council --

Senator Huddleston. Of the United States?

Mr. Maheu. -~- of the United States, and within a Matter,
I believe, of forty-eight hours, our State Department
denounced the agreement. It was the first time that anyone ©
had actually seen what this Meant, and frankly, there was an
innate fear that with the initial $17 million, then there would
be no way of stopping, I mean, he might go to Venezuela and
do the same thing, and there were also othar inputs about the
background of Mr. Onassis that I would just as soon not make
a matter of record, but they were not too favorable, that wa
presented to the National Security Council verbally but not
in writing.

Mr. Madigan. Who made the presentation?

Senator Schweiker. What subsequently happened then with
the Security “council denunciation, et cetera?

Mr. Madigan. The State Department denounced the agreement

and that same evening we were told that two.f

officials were on their way to Saudi Arabia.

Then I proceeded to dig up the gentleman by the name of
Carl Twitchell by virtue of reading about the country, because
I'm not about ready to go there and not know about the customs
and the formation of the country. I dug up a man by the name

of Carl Twitchell who was living in Connecticut who turned out

to be the .first American who had ever really been acceoted by

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National Security Council --
Senator Huddleston. Of the United States?
Mr. Maheu. -- of the United States, and within a matter,

I believe, of forty-eight hours, our State Department
denounced the agreement. It was the first time that anyone
had actually seen what this meant, and frankly, there was an
innate fear that with the initial $17 million, then there would
be no way of stopping, I mean, he might go to Venezuela and
do the same thing, and there were also othar inputs about the
background of Mr. Onassis that I would just as soon not make
a matter of record, but they were not too favorable, that wa
presented to the National Security Council verbally but not
in writing.

Mr. Madigan. Who made the presentation?

Senator Schweiker. What subsequently happened then with
the Security Council denunciation, et cetera?

Mr. Madigan. The State Department denounced the agreement

and that same evening we were told that two ees,

officials were on their way to Saudi Arabia.

| Then I proceeded to dig up the gentleman by the name of
Cand<Twitchelisby virtue. of reading about the country, because
I'm not about ready to go there and not know about the customs
and the formation of the country. I dug up a man by the name
of Gani-Twitcherlwho was living in Connecticut who turned out

to be the .first American who had ever really been accepted by

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old King Saud. Miva twat cheLd had spent time in the country
aS a mining engineer to help them in the exploitation of
mines. It was in fact to cAprsmaWeREry> that the old king gave
the power of attorney to come to the United States government
or come back to the United States and try to form a consortium

for the exploitation of oil from which emanated ARAMCO.

Pas the type of man who was only reimbursed for his

. expenses. I think his total expenses were slightly in excess

of $8,000. He didn't even keep the banking and percentage

for himself, or a piece of the action, so to speak, and he was
highly, highly loved by the Saudis and although the old king
was then gone and King Saud, the son,. was in power, Mr

had the same respect and reverence from the present

leaders as he did from the father and I convinced MAP ARES re, 1
that -- he already had a clearance, a satisfactory clearance,
and I convinced him to precede me to Saudi Arabia to try to
lay the groundwork. :
Senator Schweiker. What year was this, roughly?
Mr. Maheu. this, I believe, was in '54 or '55, yas.
Anyway, I finally ended up going to Saudi Arabia, having
a meeting with the King's confidential assistant, presenting al
of this evidence, frankly at thea time not knowing if the King .
himself had a piece of the action --

Senator Huddleston. Had some of this evidence come from

the wiretap?

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Mr. Maheu. That tap was entirely unproductive, entirely
unproductive.

Senator Schweiker. What happened then at your meeting?

Mr. Maheu. Well, it's very interesting, if we could take
a little time, I mean, I was scheduled to have the meeting
"with the King," but he doesn't show, he stays somewhere else.

and the confidential assistant shows up and one trusted

minister that he had with CHR cecher) present.

And my meeting was scheduled for 8:00 p.m. one night, and
this happaned to be the last day that the King was supposed to
be in Jidda, he was then leaving for the capital further
inland, Jidda being the only major port in Saudi where he
spends his summers, and they ware having a big parade for him,

and from the balcony of the hotel, I'm watching the parade go

‘by, and finally the King's car comes and he is arm and arm with

the: tan on whom I'm going to give the evidence that night, and
I frankly was not too comfortable, particularly in view of the
fact that in those days -- and r don't know whether it has

changed, but in Saudi, the same document did not give you

permission to enter and leave; you had to make application for
an exit visa after you arrived, and I was in constant contact
with the then-United States Ambassador. He made it very clear
that the government approved of everything I was doing, but if
something went wrong they could not come to my rescue, I would

have to be the fall guy, and I was prepared to do it. That was

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Saudi Arabian government would have its flag flying the high
seas, and at the time that all of this is going on they are
building what then, upon completion of production, had been

the biggest tanker in the world at that time, a ship named
after the old King, a tanker which was scheduled to go and take
a maiden flight and take off, and it turned out the biggest
problem that we had was to find a save-face gimmick. But
finally the whole thing was accomplished, and it took two and
a‘half years to do it.

Senator Schweiker. I didn't mean to get you off the
track.

Mr. Maheu. Well, I'm sorry I am so verbose.

Senator Huddleston. You said you bought a paper in.
Athens? You mean by that you actually bought the paper or just
paid them to run the story?

Mr. Maheu. We bought a newspaper.

You'll have to understand, Senator, that in Rome, in those

days, there were fifty newspapers. I mean, the big circulation

-in those days, “big circulation in Rome was 20,000. It's hard

for us to visualize that.

Senator Huddleston.

Mr. Maheu. Yes.
Can we go off the record?

Senator Schweiker. Yas.

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Mr. Liebengood. Was this listening post that you referred”

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2 to, was that a project that was related to work for the Central
5 Intelligence Agency?
4 Mr. Maheu. I don't believe it was. *
5 Mr. Madigan. Did you have any New York assignments other
6 than Onassis that you gave to Frank?
9 Mr. Maheu. I don't remember any.
8 Mr. Madigan. How about Gow I may have asked
. ; oe
9 you that yesterday. Do you recall whether he had any relation-
10 ship with your company during the 1950's?
1 Mr. Maheu. I don't remember a (tenaswryen
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14 Mr. Maheu. I don't recall his name.
15 Mr. Madigan. I got sidetracked off of my question: of
16 whether you recall a prosecution or an investigation of the
1? Onassis wiretap. You may have already have answered that.
18 Mr. Maheu. . I think I did, yes.
2 !
8 19 Mr. Madigan. What did you say?
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2 21 Grand Jury that was investigating Mr. Frank on another
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H 23 Mr. Madigan. On another mattar, but you had no recollection
@: 24 of any investigation of that particular tap?
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25 Mr. Maheu. No, I don't.

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Mr. Madigan. Either an investigation of you or Frank or
“Leone or anyone? ;

Mr. Maheu. No, I don't.

Mr. Madigan. No interviews by the FBI?

Mr. Maheu. It's conceivable, but I don't remember it.

Mr. Madigan. You don't remember it?

Mr. Maheu. No.

Mr. Madigan. Let's go off the record.

(Discussion off the record.)

Mr. Maheu. Yes, sir.
Mr. Madigan. And what were you asked to do with regard
to that?

Mr. Maheu.

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Z 21 Mr. Maheu. That is corract. *
ui 22 Mr. Madigan. Now can you date that assignment as sometime
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E 23 in 1956 or ‘57, does that sound about right, or do you have
i 24 any recollection of what year it was?
oy

25 Mr. Maheu. I don't have any recollection. It was before

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1960.

Mr. Madigan. It was sometime after you had begun in '54
with your Agency operation?

Mr. Maheu. That is correct.

Mr. Madigan. Or your sponsorship?

Mr. Maheu. That is correct.

Mr. Madigan. Subsequently, did this Leader "A" come to
the United States to your knowledge’ after this?

Mr. Maheu. I don't recall whether he came subsequently or
prior to.

Mr. Madigan. when the same leader did come to the United
States, were you involved in any assignment for the CIA with
regard to his presence in the country?

Mr. Maheu. Yes, I was.

Mr. Madigan. And what was that assiqnment?

Mr. Maheu. —

Mr. Madigan. Who was the Agency representative that gave

you this assignment? Did: you go through Mr. O'Connell, or was

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it someone different?

Mr. Maheu. This request emanated from, directly from the
State Department.

Mr, Madigan. Who in the State Department?

Mr. Maheu. Mr. Scott McCloud, who was then Director of
the Office of Security and Consular Affairs.

Mr. Madigan. Was it coordinated with the CIA, or was this
strictly between yourself and the State Department?

Mr. Maheu. My recollection’ is.that the CIA was kept
apprised, however that the coordination was with the State

Department, in connection-with the security that was being

provided for this leader during his visit to the United States.

Mr. Madigan. Did you meet with the State Department or
CIA people or both in New York City when the leader arrived
there?

Mr. Maheu. My recollection is that I met with Security
Personnel of the State Department.

Mr. Madigan. What did you do in New York for this
assignment?

(Pause)

Mr. Maheu. I don't recall.

Mr. Madigan. And did you meet with the New York police
with regard to the assignment?

Mr. Maheu. I don't recall.

Mr. Madigan.

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3 5 Mr. Madigan. Do you recall telling me yesterday that: you
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5 Mr. Maheu. No, I don't.
6 Mr. Madigan. Did you travel from New York to any other
) city with this leader?
8 Mr. Maheu. My recollection is that I did.
9 Mr. Madigan. What occurred when you arrived at the othar

10 cities?
ll Mr. Maheu. My recollection is that I contacted the
12 security representatives of the State Department.

13 Mr. Madigan. And after you contacted the security

WARD & PAUL

14 representatives, what were you supposed to do in these other
15 . cities?
16 Mr. Maheu. My recollection is that I, through local

7 Police Department officials or law enforcement officials?

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c 24 Mr. Maheu. I don't know what you aeeer by relationship
? .

25 Mr. Madigan. |

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Mr. Maheu. I don't recall.

Mr. Madigan. Do you recall telling me yesterday that you
did?

Mr. Maheu. No, I do not.

Mr. Madigan. Do you recall telling me yesterday when I
asked you whether someone had travelled from city to city, you
indicated that you thought maybe one did, but you weren't sure
about how many others.

Mr. Mahau. That is correct.

Mr. Madigan. How many cities did you visit during the

trip that this Leader "A" made?

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& 5 1 Mr. Maheu. I don't recall.
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F 5 were?
4 Mr. Maheu. Do you recall yesterday identifying the *s
5 leader?
6 Mr. Madigan. I do..
7 Let's go off the record.
8 (Discussion off the record.)
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16 Mr. Madigan. Jetiugoumcaam same
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21 | Mr. Madigan. And that occurred in New York and the other

22 | cities that he stayed at while he was in the United States?

23 Mr.Maheu. That is correct.

24

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Mr. Maheu. No.
Mr. Madigan. But. you did not bring a crowd of six or
séven.

Mr. Maheu. I have no recollection that

with me, may have travelled independently, but I have no

recollection of ba@ing on the same plane with any of these
people:
Mr. Madigan. You think may have traveled from city to
city, or four or five?
Mr. Maheu. One may have gone to one further city. “that
is the best of my recollection.

Mr. Madigan. Ay

Mr. Maheu. That's my recollection.

Mr. Madigan. Is that the theory of the project?

Mr. Maheu. That's my recollection.

Mr, Maheu. Yes, I did.

Mr. Madigan. Do -you remember when that assignment was
in terms of whether it was before or after this visit to the
United States?

Mr. Maheu. Subsequent to his visit to the United States

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Mr. Madigan. As a result of that, what assignment did you

receive,.if any, from the CIA?

eT

Mr. Madigan.

Mr. Maheu. Yes, I did.

Mr. Madigan. Who was that?

Saeco

Mr.Maheu.

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Mr. Maheu. I have no recollection. I can't believe that

where you would find 4 I don't believe so

NO.

Mr. Madigan. 3

Mr. Madigan. Was that Bautzer?

Mr. Maheu. No, sir.

Mr. Madigan. Who- was. that?

Mr. Maheu. ‘First I discussed tha matter with Howard
Hughes and he recommended that I contact Mr. Larry Crosby, whic
I did.

Mr. Madigan. Did Hughes have to approve your being
involved in this?

Mr. Maheu. JI am not sure he had to approve. I was just
seeking his advice.

Mr. Madigan. You were more or less just telling him about

it?

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(is 8 1 Mr. Maheu. I beg your pardon? -

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3 2 _Mr. Madigan. You were just telling him about it?
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5 3 Mr. Maheu. No, Mr. Hughes had been in the industry, he

4 had been in movie studios, I thought he could ba helpful to

5 this contract.

6 Mr, Madigan. Did you deal with O'Connell with regard to
” this contract or with somebody else?_

B Mr. Maheu. My recollection is that I dealt with Mr.

9 O'Connell and Colonel Edwards.

10 Mr. Madigan. Colonel Edwards?

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22 Mr.. Maheu....Not- at alli...

23 Mr.. Madigan. -Not.at. ali? >

24 Mr. Maheu. Not at all.

410 First Street, 5S.E., Washington, 0.C. 20003

25 Mr. Madigan. o&

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Mr. Maheu. I don't recall, but my racollection is Sig

was highly respected by the law enforcement authorities.

Whether@aegwas an informant for them or what the relationship

was, I don't know.

Mr. Maheu. Very short.

Madigan. —

12 |Meece

Mr. Maheu. That is correct.

Madigan. And thereafter do you know what happened

Mr. Maheu. No, I do not.

Mr. Madigan. Were you told what was qoing to be done

EP a

S Go cubaeacs Wiliat

Mr. Madigan. Were you ever familiar with the project name

that were attached to these assignments by the CIA?

Mr. Maheu. Not that I recollect, no.

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€& 6 1 i Mr. Madigan. Did you ever hear of project Happy Days?
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3 2 Mr. Maheu. No. |
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F 3 Mr. Madigan. Or Project Harp Star?
4 Mr. Maheu. No.
5 Mr. Madigan. Or Project Norfok?
6 Mr. Maheu. No.
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10 Mr. Maheu. Yes, sir.
il Mr. Madigan. What was your assignment in that regard?
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W Mr. Madigan. And who did you contact with regard to that?
18 Mr. Mahau. I contacted Mr. Gregson Bautzer.
8 19 Mr. Madigan. Is that B-a-u-t-2z-e-r?
6
Qo 20° Mr. Maheu. B-a-u-t-z-e-r, a Hollywood attornay.
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: 21 Mr. Madigan. And did he hold thag
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25 Mr. Maheu. My recollection is that the intent was to

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3 2 Mr. Madigan. Do you know who that person was?
4 .
; F 3 Mr. Maheu. I do not recall the name.
4 ; Mr. Madigan. You indicataéd that your recollection was

12 Mr. Madigan. Was your assignment in that regard solely

13

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15 Mr. Madigan. Did you have any other assignments with

16 regard to that Leader "B"?_

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19 Mr. Maheu. I have no recollection.
18° Mr. Madigan. Did you have any other assignments with
w us ae a
19 regard to Leader "A"? é
20: Mr. Maheu. I have no recollection that I did.
21 Mr. Madigan. Did you undertake any other Agency assignmen

20 with regard to any other leader of any other country? ,

23 Mr. Maheu. I have no recollection that I did.

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Mr. Maheu. That name is familiar, yeas, now that you
mention it. .
Mr. Madigan. Do you think SESgRignt have been the person?

Mr. Maheu. I think '&

ight have been, yes.

Mr. Madigan. Did you contact Howard Hughes with regard
to that assignment?

Mr. Maheu. No, I did not. . Howevar, Mr. Bautzer was, in
those days, Mr. Hughes’ personal. attorney.

Mr. Madigan. Would you date that gies assignment as

being around 1959?

Mr. Maheu. I don't recall. It was before 1960, but that
would sound approximately right.

Mr. Madigan. bia you ever have your office in Washington
used for cover purposes by the CIA?

Mr. Maheu. Yes, I have.

Mr. Madigan. Do you know on how ‘many occasions?

Mr. Maheu. On several occasions.

Mr. Madigan. Do you know what the purpose of the agent
that. would be using it for cover was?

Mr. Maheu. My racollection is that my rola was limited

simply to fund their income. In othar words, they would be on

the payroll of Robert A. Maheu Associates and that I would ba

reimbursed the exact amount of their pavroll.
As to the specific assignments, TI have no recollection.

Mr. Madigan. What types of duties would they have for

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: 3 Mr. Maheu. Yes, we did.
4 Mr. Madigan. Would you recall that to be around 1968,
5 or do you have a specific recollection?
6 Mr. Maheu.- It would be about that time.
vi Mr. Madigan. About that time.
8 Mr. Maheu. Yes.
9 Mr. Madigan. And did you evar hear of the name Zoers eter
10 | with regard to that cover arrangement? {5%
11 Mr. Maheu. I don't recall. My recollection is that the
ad
F 12 |) guy's name wasg ms but I don't racall
: )
zt 13 the namé& ye Perhaps he was placed ‘on the payroll as
< :

Mbut I don't recall.

1 «<a

“15 Mr. Madigan. You did not address him asfpe

16 Mr. Maheu. No, not to my recollection. ;

1? | Mr. Madigan. What was he supposed to ba doing ing

18 do you know?

19: “ -. Mr. Maheu. Covartly or ovartly?

20: Mr. Madigan. Both.

21 Let's start with covartly.

92 Mr. Maheu. Covertly he was ~~ he had an assignment from

9% || the Agency which I don't know. Overtly he was an employee of

416 First Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003

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25 || of business ventures in the country

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Mr. Madigan. You have no inclination or no fealing at
all for what his assignment was?

Mr. Maheu. No, I do not.

Mr. Madigan. In covert terms whether it was an espionage
assignmant or whether it was a PR kind of assignment? No idea?

Mr. Maheu. I don't know.

Mr. Madigan. Was there ever an island involved with that
assignment to your knowledge?

Mr. Maheu. Not to my knowledge or recollection.

Mr. Madigan. You never heard of an island called
shave you?

Mr. Maheu. Not to my recollection.

Mr. Madigan. During the 1960's did you employ. a fellow
by the name of Jack Buckley? We may have discussed this
before.

Mr. Maheu. I believe that from time to time a Jack
Buckley did work for Robert A. Maheu Associates. I don't
believe he was an employee.

Mr. Madigan. Would he be on a kind of an intermittent
contract basis like Frank was? You would use him every once in
awhile?

Mr. Maheu. My recollection is that he did some work for
Robert A. Maheu Associates and, as I aay, not an employee.

Mr. Madigan. Do you know what types of assignments he

did?

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Liebengood.. Mr. Mort Jackson?

Maheu. I don't remember his name.

2 Mr.
5 Mr. Madigan. Mort Jackson being an attorney --
4 Mr. Liabengood. -- in Los Angeles.
5 Mr, Al Long of the Secret Service?
6 Mr. Maheu. Don't remember his nama.
7 Mr. Liebengood.
8 Intelligence Agency, a resident of Florida.
9 Mr. Maheu. Don't remember his name.
10 Mr. Lisbengood. . :
11 _ Mr. Maheu. Don't remember his name. °
r) 2 12 Mr. Liebengood. ‘James McCord?
13 Mr. Maheu. Only what I saw in the newspapers.
° 14 |) Mr. Liebengood. But you had no dealings with him while

in Washington?
Maheu. Not to my recollection.

Madigan. Just briefly, in that regard, we discussed

18 yesterday whether you had any racollection of Mr. McCord

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19 || being involved -- or at least I think we discussed it -- in any

either sweeping of your office or slectronic aquipment or

your office as a listening post or anything like that?
Maheu. I don't. remember.

Madigan. And your indication was you didn't have

any recollection?

Maheu. No.

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L payroll, and for the second time I was turned down by Mr.

2 Hughes. I belisve it was in September of 1969 that I finally

Phone (Area 202) 544-6000

3 called Mr. Meier in and requested his resiqnation and then

4 I informed Mr. Hughes that he had resigned.

5 After the departure of Mr. Meier, while going through his

6 files, Mr. Ellson ran into soma documents that indicated some
” very Serious double escrows on mining proparties and wa

8 recommended to Mr. Hughes that all the information be made

9 available to the authorities and let the chips fall where they

10 || may.

ll Mr. Liebengood. Do you know why Mr. Hughes was not inclindgd
12 to follow your recommendations with regards to Meier's termina-

13 tion at earlier datss?

WARD & PAUL

14 . Mr. Maheu. He was afraid that Meier would embarrass him.
15 || At least, that is what he told me.

16 Mr. Liebengood. You are aware of no CIA interest in

7 Meier?

18 Mr, Mahéeu. The only thing I know is that Meier was cut

19 || in on the cover 9f8 and was aware of

i; aoe
20: that operation.
21 Mr. Liebengood. How did that come about? How was he
29 | cut in on that?

23 Mr. Maheu. Because it was he wha initially had worked on

o4 || & deal for a venture in Mexico on the part of Hughes Aircraft

410 First Street, S.E., Washington, O.C. 20003

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collapsed, the person who was to be the partner of Hughes
Aircraft in that particular venture threatened to sue Howard
Hughes and all of the Hughes interest for non-fulfillment of
contract, and I made a racommendation to that person whose
name slips my mind, but I believe his last name was Jamie,
J-a-m-i-e or something like that, I don't recall. But to try
to discourage him from filing such a lawsuit I suggested that
he and I put up $10,000 in ASGSUTE and check into the
possibility of developing business there.

T put up my ten, he never put his up, and Meiar was the
one who was involved. But when the Agency needed a cover for

fy Meier was made privy of this by the

an assignment in ee
Agency.
Mr. Liebengood. Just to be cartain I understand, this

was because of Meier's role in reestablishing the operation

veh Is that correct?

Mr. Maheu. Well, of trying to save the lawsuit, yes.
That's right.

Mr. Liebengood. And you think the name of this would-be
partner was Jamie?

Mr. Maheu. I don't remember whether that was the first
name or last name.

Mr. Liebengood. How dia (RIS en | whatever way do you

spell his last name, do you recall?

Mr. Maheu. I don't recall.

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Mr. Liebengood. Do you know who accompanied Meier and
F. Donald Nixon on this trip'to the Dominican Republic, the
celebrated trip?

Mr. Maheu. No, I do not.

Mr. Liebengood. As far as you know, they had nothing to
do with any Agency interest in that?

Mr. Maheu. No, sir, not as far as I know.

As a matter of fact, it's my recollection I found out
about this afterwards.

Mr. Liabengood. Who else was witting of the cover
arrangements that you had with the Agency through Robert A.
Maheu Associates? You mentioned Maiar and this particular
one. Did you have other employees who were witting of the
cover? ;

Mr. Maheu. I believe “Bill Staton was aware of some of
it. .

Mr. Liebengood. And did he keep your books?

Mr. Maheu. Yes.

Mr. Liebengood: And‘ outside of the

not witting of any other cover arrangements, I take it?

Mr. Maheu. Not to my knowledge.

Mr. Liebengood. Do--you-fecall-who~the other personnel wer
through the years that obtained Robert A. Maheu Associates

cover for the Agency?

Mr. Maheu. I don't.

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